This document provides information and instructions for organizing a perfect application packet for US universities. It outlines the various components required in the application packet, including the formal application, academic documents, test scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, financial documents, and other supporting materials. It also discusses understanding university document requirements, such as ensuring documents are officially translated, attested, or evaluated. Finally, it provides some tips for applicants, such as applying early and collating all documents to send together.

1. Organizing Perfect
Application Kit for
US Universities
By Aakriti Jain

2. • About us
• Why study in the U.S.?
• Admission Intake and Preparation timelines
• Courses Offered
• Application packet components
 Formal Application
 Academic Documents
 Test Scores
 English Proficiency Test Scores
 Letters of Recommendations
 Statement of Purpose
 Financial Documents
 Others
• Understanding University Documents Requirements
• Some Tips
Contents

3. About us
 Meetuniv.com is an leading college search and information website for students
looking at to pursue higher education abroad.
 The website offers one of the largest course information listing of undergraduate
(UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses from USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore & many more
 The portal is backed by one of the largest media groups in the country Times
Internet & is incubated out of their innovation center (Tlabs) in Noida. The portal
is also backed by PeeshVC, an USA based Ed-Tech Fund.
 Users can get information of 3,000 colleges & search for over 40,000 courses
 Users can opt for personalized counseling sessions by IVY league experts, who
help at the important stages of a higher education college shortlisting &
application.
 MeetUniv.com have counseled more than 106452 Study abroad
aspirants and holds 13484 university connects

4. Study in US
 World renowned education
 Academic Excellence
 Academic choice and flexibility
 Excellent Opportunity for Research, Teaching and Training
 Financial Support Services
 Campus Life-Value addition & cultural enhancement
 Rewarding job opportunities

5. Intake and Preparation Timelines
The major intake sessions in the U.S.
Fall, Spring & Summer
 Fall (August, September)
 Spring (Jan, Feb)
 Timelines
 Preparation about 6-7 months in advance/ 10-12 months including Test Prep
 Preparation includes detailed research on institutions, standardized test taking,
preparing the application contents , sending out applications

6. Courses Offered

7. Application Packet Components
• Formal Application
Online Application Completion/ Paper Based Application + Proof of Application fee payment (containing
Application ID if generated)
• Academic Documents*
All documents should be in English Only
*Some Universities might require Transcripts to be Officially evaluated (by WES, ECE Etc.)
Type of Document Method of Presentation
Degree Certificate & Provisional/Course
completion whichever is available).
In sealed envelopes to be attested by The Registrar of University/Controller of Exams
Provisional/Course completion Certificate required for final year students. Original
attestation on Photocopy
Individual Mark statements and
consolidated
All dms required including retakes
In sealed envelopes to be attested by The Registrar of University/Controller of Exams.
Only Consolidated mark sheet will not be accepted. Original attestation on Photocopy
Official Transcripts (Apart from
Marksheets)
In sealed envelopes to be attested by The Registrar of University/Controller of Exams. To
be send directly to the University by issuing authority or with the Application Packet
10+2 / equivalent mark sheet In sealed envelopes to be attested by the College Principal/Technical Board. Original
attestation on Photocopy
10th / equivalent mark sheets In sealed envelopes to be attested by The School Principal.
Original attestation on Photocopy

8. Application Packet Components
• Test Scores
• English Proficiency Test
Type of Test Conducted by Test Fee
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) ETS $195 (+ $27 per additional score reporting after 5
Univs)
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission
Test)
GMAC (mba.org) $ 250 (+ $28 per additional score reporting after 5
Univs)
SAT Scholastic Aptitude Test) Collegeboard.org $ 103.50 (+$11.25 per additional score reporting after
4 Univs)
LSAT (Law School Admission Test) LSAC $ 118.00 ( + $30 for each Score Reporting)
Type of Test Conducted By Test Fee
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign
Language)
ETS $ 170 (+$19 per additional score reporting after 4
Univs)
IELTS (International English Language
Testing System)
IDP and British Council INR 10,600 (+INR 1250 per additional
score reporting after 4 Univs)

9. Application Packet Components
• Recommendation Letters*
Letters of recommendation from persons who know your academic qualifications are
required. Recommenders should be chosen from people most familiar with your
former studies, research interests, or work, including at least one instructor in the
institution you last attended.
2 Min with at least 1 academic
 In sealed envelopes with attestation (inside outside)
 Dated
 Signed
 On the Original Letterhead in different formats
(*Some Universities accept Online Recommendations as well)
• Statement of Purpose (Essays)
Prepared by the student-soft copy uploaded at the time of application and
hard copy on A4 size paper (duly signed) with the application packet.
Subject Essays (if required) to be uploaded at the time of online
application

10. Application Packet Components
• Financial Documents
• Other Documents
Type of Document Method of Prepration
Bank Statement Savings Account Bank Statement/Fixed Deposit Account Bank Statement/ Combination of both.
Signed by the Bank Manager with a seal of the bank, A/c no. & Date Approx. amount equivalent
to US$44,000…….
On the Original Bank Letterhead
Affidavit of Support Signed by the Sponsor & has to be notarized on Rs. 10 Stamp Paper- Send in as Original Only
Type of Document Method of Presentation
Experience Certificates Clear copies of Relieving letter from the previous company and employment letter from the
current one (Required if > 6 months gap/ showing experience in Resume Photocopy)
Extra Curricular Certificates Only those certificated which can add further weightage to your profile-Clear Photocopies
Resume Updated-Duly Signed, Soft Copy uploaded at the time of application and hard
copy to be send with the application
Passport Copy Clear Photocopies -First & last 2 pages

11. Understanding University
Document Requirements
U.S. universities will present you with a variety of different requirements for your academic
documents. Some of the terms and phrases you will see in relation to your academic documents
include:
Stamped and sealed | Official
Attested | Original
Sent from the institution | NACES certified
Credential evaluation | Course-by-course credential evaluation
and more
To understand what you need to send a university, you must first understand the differences
between:
• Translation
A conversion of your document from the non-English language that it is written in to English.
Whatever is written on your academic document will be literally translated into English following
the documents format as closely as possible.
All universities will require your academic documents to be in English,
but some may also request a native language version as well.

12. Understanding University
Document Requirements
Translation services include:
EducationUSA Advising Centers (select centers only – https://www.educationusa.info/)
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) Members:
Academic Evaluation Services (http://www.aes-edu.org)
Foundation for International Services (http://www.fis-web.com)
Josef Silny & Associates (http://www.jsilny.com)
SpanTran Educational Services (http://www.spantran-edu.org)
• Attestation
A stamp, signature, or other official seal placed on a photocopy of your academic documents. By
stamping, signing, or placing a seal on the photocopy, the attestation agent/agency is stating that
the photocopy was made from an original version. An attestation is a verified photocopy of your
original academic documents.
An attestation would fulfil the requirement for a stamped, official, or attested document.
Attestations, however, are not always considered “original.”
Attestation services include:
EducationUSA Advising Centers (select centers only – https://www.educationusa.info/)
Various ministries, consulates, or other governmental departments in your country
might also be able to attest your documents.

13. Understanding University
Document Requirements
• Credential Evaluation
An assessment of your academic documents that recalculates and converts your academics studies and
performance to the U.S. educational equivalents. A credential evaluation takes your academic documents from
home and changes them to the U.S. equivalent. The equivalencies are based on the U.S. 4.0 grade point
average, and the U.S. semester credit system for university studies.
Credential evaluations also give general comparisons of your studies based on the U.S. educational system. For
instance, if your studies are equal to a U.S. high school diploma, bachelors degree, masters degree, two years
of undergraduate study, one year of graduate study, etc.
Different types of credential evaluations exist. It is important that you review each university’s application
requirements to ensure that you order the correct credential evaluation. The primary options you will see are:
1.“Basic,” “General,” or “Document-by-Document”
This type of evaluation will offer a general equivalency for your academic documents such as, “equivalent to a
U.S. bachelors degree.” Depending on the credential evaluation service, you may get some additional
information, but these types of evaluations are very simple. Be sure that a university will accept this type of
evaluation before ordering.
2. “Course-by-Course” or “Detailed”
This type of evaluation gives specific equivalencies for each and every course you studied. Each course will be
identified along with its U.S. semester and grade equivalents. A cumulative U.S. grade point
average will also be calculated. The evaluation also includes the information that you would
receive in a basic evaluation. This is usually the type of credential evaluation that a
university requests or requires.

14. Understanding University
Document Requirements
WES ICAP Evaluation: World Education Services (WES) offers a special kind of course-by-course evaluation,
where they also send an attested copy of your original transcript along with the credential evaluation. If you
are applying to a school that wants both an evaluation and a transcript, this could be a good option for you.
Currently WES is the only company offering this service.
Credential evaluation services include:
National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) - http://www.naces.org/
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) - http://ies.aacrao.org/
You must be very careful in your research so that you know exactly what each university needs to fulfill their
admission requirements. Some universities will only accept transcripts sent directly from your home school,
while others will accept a transcript from you. Some universities will accept any credential evaluation, while
others want an evaluation from a NACES certified service, and still others will only accept an evaluation from a
specific company.
Similar to universities, credential evaluation services have rules and regulations about evaluating academic
documents. Some are very strict about documents being sent to them directly from your home school or
ministry, while others will accept documents from you.
While submitting transcripts and academic documents seems like it is a simple process, based on all of these
requirements, it might not be. It is important for you to research university, and other, requirements long
before the application deadline so that you can create a plan to fulfil those requirements on time.

15. Some Tips..
 Try a send a small profile of your last Educational Institutions just to give a fair idea to the
applying Universities about its affiliation and accreditations.
 Never Leave a column to fill in, even if it is not mandatory; Remember if its not important,
they would not be asking for it.
 Try to collate all documents and send it in a single go, it is cumbersome for admission officers
to relate to receiving every single piece of document separately every other day from the
same student.
 Use a Physical calendar to mark all the mock test dates, test dates, Application deadlines to
act at least a month in advance
 Try to apply based on your Realistic Test Mock Scores, instead of only Optimistic Test Scores
 Be a early bird in applying to ensure consideration for admission and financial scholarship,
do not wait for the deadline to complete the rest of your document; Remember your
application will only be processed after receipt of the complete documents, by sending
incomplete information/documents you are reducing your acceptance chances.
 Apply to at least 6 and not more than 10 Universities including at least 2 safe University
options.
All the Best ! 